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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-11-04 Solid Waste Advisory Committee MinutesMinutes of Solid Waste Committee November 4, 1992 - Present: Carol Edwards, Linda King, Bob Brown, Anne Mark, Sally Sabo, Trish Brigham, Ruth Cogan, Steve Thomas, Susan Cohen Minutes from the October 14, 1992 meeting were approved without change. Steve T.inquired about the status of the MRF fee with FinCom. It was reported that FinCom did not approve of the expenditure (approximately $2,300) therefore, the issue n ever came up for vote by the Selectmen. The deadline for the commitment to the MRF is after Spring Town meeting, so there is still time to get approval for the expenditure. Recycler of the Month: It was unanimously approved that the committee try a change in the Recycler of the Month nomination format. Instead of choosing a Recycler of the Month in the month prior to delivering the award, we would vote on the award and present it in the same month. This new procedure will be tested in December, so nominations for December Recycler of the Month were postponed until the December meeting. Committee Reports: RRP: More than a ton of milk/water jugs were collected at the Oct. 24 plastics drop- off. Three palettes of phonebooks were filled (15,000 lbs). The last phonebook collection is November 28. Ruth suggested that RRP write an article on the success of the phonebook drive for Reading Notes in the Suburban news. The deadline is the end of next week. Bob B. agreed to follow-up with RRP. RRP is exploring the idea of expanding the phonebook recycling to magazines. Magazines would require a container and transportation to the mill. Bob will keep the SWAC informed on his progress with this project. Junk Mail reduction: Linda reported that a student volunteer agreed to put the database of vendors on-line and additional volunteers have offered to do phoning and maintain the database. Newspaper Articles: A report on newspaper articles in process was deferred until the next meeting. Per Bag Fee Research: Linda King proposed the idea that the SWAC should begin research and education on per bag fees for trash collection and disposal. The committee agreed to invited our liason from the Board of Selectmen, George Hines, to the December meeting to discuss the per-bag fee concept and the role the SWAC should play in providing updated information to the Selectmen. There was concensus in the group that the issue of per-bag fees is important to the SWAC. Anne suggested that we urge the DPW to include a provision in the Trash Collection RFP for switching to a usage fee. Ruth reported on the Mass Recycles Meeting at the Newton Library. The topic was Supermarkets. Representatives from two supermarkets presented their approaches to recycling. The first had an impressive program that began with a waste analysis that indicated that 90% of the waste in the store could be recycled. The second store presented: their product tagging program that includes waste content as well as successful savings they achieve thru an energy audit. The Trash / Recycling. Contract: The committee reviewed the list of: recycling service vendors, towns with recycling programs, and the survey that Anne put together. Some minor changes were made to the questions. The group agreed to divide up the work of surveying the vendors and towns. Responsibilities: Bob B BFI, Waste Recycling, Vining and M.J. Connolly Anne M. Waste Management, Jet-a-Way, Waste Disposal Bellan Disposal Inc. New England Recycling Corp. Susan C. Acton, Bedford, Belmont, Brookline Carol E. Cambridge, Chelmsford, Dedham, Framingham Sally S. Hamilton, Lexington, Manchester, Nahant New Business: The committee agreed that it would be valuable to provide Town Meeting with an information report on the MRF at the beginning of the meeting. Sally agreed to present a summary of the report she shared with the Board of Selectmen. There is still interest in reviewing the Tellus Institute Report. Ted M. had agreed to order it for the Committee. Anne will ask Ted about the report. The idea of putting together a Reading version of the "Newton Green Pages" was postponed until the work on the Recycling/Trash contract is complete. The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 P.M.